Frank Kruesi Obituary

Frank Eugene Kruesi, Jr.
MERIDIAN, ID - Frank Eugene Kruesi, Jr. passed away February 19, 2016 at the age of 94. He lived with his wife, Margaret, in Meridian, Idaho. He was born in Seattle, Washington, to Frank E. Kruesi Sr. and Isobel Mitchell Rogers Kruesi on January 23, 1922. Frank earned a B.S. in Physics from Union College in Schenectady, NY in 1944. Frank served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps 3118 Signal Service Battalion in the European Theater of Operations in WWII as a radio officer in Frankfurt, Germany.
After the war, Frank began his career in nuclear physics in Washington at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. He married Margaret Louisa Heim in 1950 in Richland, WA.
Frank continued his career at the Savannah River Plant near Aiken, South Carolina, in 1953 serving various roles including Savannah River Lab Director from 1967-69. From 1969-1984, Frank served as Director of Manufacturing for the Atomic Energy Division of DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware. From 1972-73 he worked for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission as Directorate of Regulatory Operations. Frank was a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.
In 1984, Frank retired from DuPont and he and Margaret moved to Boise, ID where they enjoyed trips to the mountains and Sun Valley. In retirement Frank served on an advisory committee for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations from 1985-1992. He also valued time spent helping with exhibits at Discovery Center of ID for 25 years, and was active in the Boise Astronomy Society. He enjoyed his hobby in seismology, where he tracked earthquakes around the world. Throughout his life, Frank was an avid outdoorsman with activities ranging from soaring, hiking, downhill and cross-country skiing.
Survived by wife, Margaret and four children; Carol (Paul) Kendall, Frederick (Charlotte) Kruesi, Douglas (Loma) Kruesi, Jane (Gary) Rushane; three grandchildren: Mark Kendall, Catherine Zanetti and Erin Kendall; one great-grandchild, Luke Zanetti. He is also survived by his brother Paul Kruesi. Preceded in death by brothers William Kruesi and Oscar Kruesi.
Memorial donations in memory of Frank Kruesi can be made to: Discovery Center of Idaho, Attn: Development, 131 Myrtle St., Boise, ID 83702 or online.
A Memorial for Frank Kruesi will be held at Cloverdale Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Boise, Idaho on Monday, March 21 at 2:00 PM.